• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.32 no.11
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• pp.1017-1022
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• 1999

Background: An increasing number of elderly are referred for open heart surgeries(OHS). These patients are assumed to have significantly increased morbidity and mortality because of compromised functional reserves in their vital organs. We reviewed the results of OHS patients who were 70 years old or older. Material and Method: Thirty six consecutive septuagenarians underwent OHS from 1995 to 1997. Operations were coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG) in 26 including 3 left main surgical angioplasty, valve replacement in 7, MVR+CABG in 2, and ASD closure+TAP in 1. Statistical tests were carried out to compare survivor group with nonsurvivor group in respect to risk factors including NYHA functional class, LVEF, emergent operation, IABP support, CPB/ACC time, ventilator time cardiac index, ICU stay and hospital stay for operative mortality. Result: Operative mortality rate and postoperative complication were 16%(6/36) and 50%(18/36). One-year and 3-year actuarial survival rates were 76%. Nine patients(25%) had major complications including third-degree A-V block(2), respiratory failure(1), stroke(3), renal failure requiring dialysis(3) and postoperative hemorrhage(2). The causes of death were pneumonia(1), bleeding(1), acute renal failure(1), low cardiac output(1), third-degree A-V block(1), and ventricular tachycardia(1). The univariate analysis of mortality shows that NYHA class IV, LVEF<40%, lesser values for C.I, and longer time for ventilatory support were associated with the risk factors(p value=0.03, 0.001, 0.007, and 0.014). The emergent operation, CPB/ACC time, IABP support, ICU stay and hospital stay were not significant. Conclusion: We conclude that cardiac operation can be performed in septuagenarians with acceptable outcomes when done in patients with normal to moderately depressed left ventricular function and adequate functional reserves in their vital organs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 1998

A total of 172 cases of MVR using the St. Jude Medical valve was conducted in the period from August 1986 to May 1996. The hospital mortality rate was 3.5% (n=6) and the late mortality rate was 3.3% (n=5). According to the follow-up of 161 surviving patients, the average length of survival was 50.23$\pm$0.27 months. Three cases of prosthetic valve related complication deaths were identified. Two cases could be ascribed to left atrial thrombi and resulting cerebral infarction, and one case was prosthetic valve endocarditis. Two cases were caused by hemorrhagic complications that we presume to have been accompanied by anti-coagulation therapy. The actuarial survival rate of all cases at 10 years was 92.3%. We conclude that good clinical results and a low complication rate could be achieved through mitral valve replacement with the St. Jude Medical valve. We also conclude that mid-term and long-term follow-ups were instrumental and necessary.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1254-1260
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• 1992

Rupture of the posterior left ventricular wall following mitral valve replacement is a rare but fatal complication. Over a 10 year period from August 25 1980 to November 27 1990, we have experienced 6 such patients among 884 cases of mitral valve replacement with 4 deaths and 2 survivors. One patient had a type I rupture and another a type II rapture with the remaining four patients having suffered type III ruptures. All of the ruptures were dis covered intraoperatively enabling prompt reinstitution of the cardiopulmonary bypass and subsequent cardioplegic arrest prior to repair. Overzealous removal of calcified valve leaflets seemed to be responsible for the single type I rupture, and untethering of the so called ventricular loop appeared to be the main mechanism responsible for the type III ruptures. The single type II rupture that had occurred seemed to have been caused by inadvertent laceration of the papillary muscle with resultant rupture of the posterior LV wall at the base of the papillary muscle. Among the type III ruptures, 2 patients required intraaortic balloon pump[IABP] support only for mechanical assistance and 1 patient required both the IABP and the Biomedicus LV assist device for successfull weaning following repair of the LV rupture Another patient with a type II rupture also required the circulatory assistance of both the IABP and the bio-medicus LV assist device for weaning from the bypass. Attention to meticulous technical considerations such as avoiding over aggressive removal of heavily calcified valvular tissue, preservation of as much mural leaflet tissue and chordal stuctures as possible seemed helpful in preventing this catastrophic complication from occurring. Fusion and fibrous stricture of the chordal structures appeared particularly conducive to the type II ruptures as a result of the increased susceptibility to papillary injury during operation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1556-1562
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• 1992

Forty two consecutive patients who had had valve replacement with St. Jude Medical prosthesis were studied on a view point of intravascular hemolysis. Patients were consisted of 14 mitral valve replacement, and 7 aortic valve replacement, and 21 double, mitral and aortic, valve replacement. Serum LDH, indirect bilirubin, GOT, hemoglobin levels and ret-iculocyte count were pursued in postopeative 1st day, 3rd day, 7th day, 14th day and 21th day. Postoperatively, all patients were not detected paravalvular leakage on the ech-ocardiographical study. The patients with double valve replacement revealed higher levels of LDH on postopeative 14th day[P<0 05] than those with single valve replacement. Among the patients with single valve replacement, the patients with aortic valve replacement revealed slightly higher levels of entire postopeative data, but considered insignificant. There was correlation between the severity of hemolysis and the size of replaced aortic valve. In the postoperative LDH levels, the patients with small sized-aortic valve[less than 21mm in diameter] replacement revealed higher levels of postoperative 3rd day, 7th day and 14th day than those with large size[more than 23mm in diameter]. The patients with high level LDH of greater than 800 WU /L on postoperative 7th day were 61.9%[26 of 42]. The high LDH frequency of DVR was 71.4%[15 of 21], MVR 50.0%[7 of 14] and AVR, 57.1%[4 of 7]. The level of LDH declined gradualiy thereafter through postoperative 3 weeks. In conclusion, intravascular hemolysis after prosthetic valve replacement was dependent on position of valve replacement and size of valve. And this study supports the conventional valve selection and usage in our hospital. The patients with subclinical hemolysis after valve replacement should be placed on a close observation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.644-662
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• 1986

Seventy cases of open heart surgery were performed in the department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Pusan Paik Hospital, Inje College, from Oct. 1985 to Oct. 1986. And the results were summarized as follows. 1. Among the 70 cases, there were 48 cases of congenital heart anomalies and 22 cases of acquired rheumatic valvular heart diseases. Age range of the congenital patients was 7 months to 31 years with the mean age of 10 years, and the acquired patients was 18 to 62 years with the mean age of 40 years. 2. The heart-lung machine used for cardiopulmonary bypass was Sarns 7000, 5-head roller pump, and the number and type of oxygenators were 5 of membrane type and 65 of bubble type. For all cases GIK [glucose-insulin-potassium] solution was used as cardioplegic solution for myocardial protection during operation. 3. Among the 48 congenital anomalies, there were 12 cases of ASD group, 29 of VSD group, 3 of ECD, 3 of TOF and one of PDA + MR, and to all of which the appropriate radical operations were applied. 4. Among the 22 acquired valvular diseases, there were 11 cases of mitral valve diseases [MS; 4, MSr; 3, MRs; 4], 3 cases of aortic valve diseases [AR:1, ARs;1, ASr;1], 4 cases of double valve diseases [MRs+TR; 3, MRs+ARs; 1] and 4 cases of triple valve diseases [MSr+ASr+TR; 3, MSr+Ar+TR; 1]. To all the diseased mitral and aortic valves, artificial valve replacement was applied except one [As], in which valve plication was applied. And to all the diseased tricuspid valve, DeVega annuloplasty was applied. 5. The number of replaced artificial valves were 29 in 25 patients [congenital; 3, acquire; 22]. In MVR, 6 of mechanical valves [St. Jude Medical valve; 6] and 15 of tissue valves [Carpentier-Edward valve; 11, lonescu-Shiley valve; 4] were used. In AVR, 6 of mechanical valves [St. Jude Medical valve; 6] and 2 of tissue valves [Carpentier-Edward valve; 2] were used. 6. Postoperative complications were occurred in 12 cases. Among them 11 cases were recovered with intensive cares, but one patient [VSD + Fistula of Valsalva sinus] was expired with low cardiac out put syndrome.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1025-1035
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• 1989

Since we first performed open heart surgery on December 30, 1986, 126 cases were operated on up to August 31, 1989. Among the 126 cases, 65 cases were congenital heart disease of which 63 were acyanotic disease, and 61 cases were acquired heart disease, most of which were valvular heart disease. The age distribution of congenital heart disease was from 1 years 2 months to 48 years, and males had a slightly higher incidence. The age of acquired heart disease was from a minimum of 15 years to a maximum of 68 years, and the male to female ratio was 1;1.5. Midsternotomy was performed in all cases, and the aortic cannula was inserted through ascending aorta and the venous cannula inserted into the SVC and IVC through the right atrium. Vent was inserted through the right superior pulmonary vein. Cardioplegia solution was used in all cases; it was composed of sodium bicarbonate 3.5 ampule, KCL 14 mEq, 2% lidocaine 2.5 ml, 20 % albumin 50 ml and heparin 1000 units mixed to 950 ml with Hartman solution, and was made to 4oC and infused 10 ml per Kg every 20 minutes. The congenital heart disease had a variety of VSD in 32 cases, ASD 23 cases, PS 6 cases, PDA 2 cases, and one case each of Ebsteins anomaly and tricuspid atresia. The operations performed for acquired heart disease were 4 cases of OMC, 33 cases of MVR, and 5 cases of AVR, and 1 case of AVR with CABG. DVR was perfomed in 13 cases, and triple valve replacement was done in 1 case. Other than these, excision of LA myxoma was 2 cases, and repair of traumatic VSD and removal of a pulmonary embolism were one case each. The surgical mortality was 5 cases[4%], all of which occurred in valve replacement cases. Follow-up study revealed 2 late deaths. One died after a traffic accident and one died due to sepsis after he had received a gastrectomy for ulcer bleeding. The remaining patients were in good condition.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.285-289
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• 2000

Background: For AVR using conventional prosthetic valves in adult patients with a narrow aortic root, aortic root enlargement is necessary to reduce postoperative pressure gradient across the aortic valve (ΔP). An evaluation of early and mid-term results of aortic root enlargement with AVR and echocardiographic follow up of ΔP and left ventricular function was performed. Method: From Aug. 1991 to Feb. 1998, eighteen patients aged 17 to 59 years(mean, 38$\pm$12 years) underwent Manouguian procedure with AVR. Aortic annular circumstance was enlarged 10.0mm to 18.0mm(mean, 12.6$\pm$6.3mm). Eight patients(44.0%) had NYHA class III status before operation, and seven cases of them underwent concomitant MVR. Valve pathology was ASr in 6 cases, AS in 4 cases, nd ASr+MSr in 8 cases. Replaced valve size was 21mm in 8 cases and 23 mm in 10 cases, and St. Jude Medical mechanical valve was used in 10 cases and Carbomedics in 8 cases. Result: Follow-up duration was 6 to 57 months (mean, 26$\pm$18 months), and total follow-up was 287 patient-year. There were one hospital death and one late death, therefore, actuarial survival rate was 85.7% at 56 months. Peak ΔP wad decreased significantly at postoperative mid-term period as 13$\pm$5mmHg, compared with thepreoperative one (42$\pm$8mmHg) (p<0.01). LVM(gm/$m^2$) was also diminished as 35.8%(115$\pm$36gm/$m^2$)at postoperative mid-term period, compared with preoperative one (179$\pm$56gm/$m^2$)(p<0.05). Conclusion: There were no specific complications related to the procedure. And we could have adequate enlargement of aortic annulus to suitable prosthetic valve that have no effect of patient-prosthese mismatch.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.875-882
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• 1996

Multlvalvular heart surgery was performed In 78 cases, in the Department of Thoracic & Cardiovascu far Surgery of Chonbuk national University Hospital from november 1983 to March 1994. There Where 31 men and 47 women. whose ranged from 14 to 63 years. The causes of the valvular lesions were 57 rheumatic origin, 18 degenerative, 1 previous endocarditls, 1 prosthetic valve mal-function. There were 25 double valve replacement with or wit out tricuspid valve repair, i M VR and aortic valve repair, 18 MVR and tricuspid valve repair, 1 MVR and aortic and tricuspid valve repair, 10 AVR and mi- tral valve repair, 1 AVR and tricuspid valve repair, 8 mitral aortic valve repair, 13 mitral and tricuspid valve repair. They were improved mean New York Heart Association functional cldss, from 2.72% 121 Early deaths were 5 cases(6.4%). The cause of death wet'e low cArdiac output syndrome. veritricular tachycardia, massive bleeding and cerebral thromboembolism. All the survivors belonged to New York Heart Association functional class I or ll at discharge. The patients who had had valve replacement operation were medicated with warfarin to maintain the level of 30∼ 50% of normal prothrombin time. During follow-up(93.6%, mean 49.9 months), 2 late deaths were developed. One was due to intracranial hemorrhage and the other congestive heart failure. The pre-operative New York Heart Association Functional class IV was statistically sig ificant operat- ive risk factors(p< 0.05).

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.287-292
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• 1997

.Itrial fibrillation is one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias requiring treatment. About 60% of patients with mitral valvular disease have atrial fibrillation and one third of patients with atrial fibrillation may have the past history of thromboembolic events. Between April 1994 and June 1995, 20 patients with organic heart diseases combined with atrial fibrillation underwent open heart surgery including Cox-maze 111 procedure. There were 6 men and 14 women with an average age of 48 years (range, 31 to 66 years). Nineteen patients had valvular heart diseases and 1 ventricular septal defEct (VSD). Mean duration of atrial fibrillation was 36 months (:42 months) (range, 1 to 132 months). T e past medical history of thromboembolic events was positive in 7 patients (35%) and left atrial thrombus was detected in 9 patients (45%). The concomitant procedures were mitral valve replacement (MVR) and aortic valve replacement (AVR) in 5 patients, MVR in 4, MVd and tricuspid annuloplasty(TAP) in 4, mitral valvuloplasty(Mln) in 3, Mln and Tln in 1, MIW and coronary artery bypass surgery in 1, AVR in 1, and patch closure of VSD in 1. Mean aortic cross-clamping time was 175 minutes (range, 116 to 270 minutes). Atrial fibrillation recurred in 16 patients (80%) during the early postoperative period, but, recurrent atrial fibrillation was converted to regular rhythm at postoperative forty-first day in average. There was no early or late death in this series of 20 patients and postoperative complications were inappropriate tachycardia in 5 patients (25%), low cardiac output syndrome in 3 (15%), aggravated hemiplegic in 1, and acute renal failure in 1. Mean follow-up interval of patient was 16.5 months (range, 10.5 to 24 months) and all patients are currently in regular rhythm. Seventeen patients (85%) are in sinus rhythm and 3 (15%) in junctional rhythm. Right atrial contraction was detected in 95% of patients and left atrial contraction in 63% on postoperative transthoracic echocardiogram. The surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation concomitant with open heart surgery is warranted in the recent clinical setting of improved myocardial protection technique, considering the untoward side-effects of atrial fibrillation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.193-200
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• 2009

Background: The long-term administration of oral anticoagulant to the patients with a mechanical heart valve prosthesis is mandatory. However, the appropriate intensity of oral anticoagulant therapy to prevent thromboembolic or hemorrhagic complications is still controversial. We tried to apply low intensity anticoagulant therapy for which the International Normalized Ratios ranged between 1.5 and 2.5, and we analyzed the anticoagulation-related long term outcomes. Material and Method: From January 1992 to December 2002, 144 patients who underwent a single cardiac valve replacement were included in the study, and their ages ranged from 15 to 72 years (mean age: $47.4{\pm}15.1$): there were 49 aortic valve replacements (AVR) and 95 mitral valve replacements (AVR). The patients were followed up monthly or bi-monthly at the outpatient clinic with clinical examinations and measuring the prothrombin time to adjust the International Normalized Ratios (INRs) within the low-intensity target range between 1.5 and 2.5. Result: The follow-up period was 835.3 patient-years (mean: $5.9{\pm}3.5$) and the INRs of 7,706 measurements were available for evaluation. The mean INRs of the aortic and the mitral valve replacement groups were significantly different (p<0.01). All the patients' INRs were within the target range in 61.9% of the measurements. The mean INRs $(2.16{\pm}0.23)$ of the patients with atrial fibrillation, which was found in 30.3% of the patients, were definitely higher than those $(2.03{\pm}0.27)$ measured in the patients with regular rhythm (p<0.01). Thromboembolic episodes occurred in 9 patients with an incidence of 1.08%/patient-year. Major bleeding occurred in 2 patients (MVR) with an incidence of 0.24%/patient-year. The patients who displayed better compliance showed a lower incidence of complications (p=0.000). Conclusion: The anticoagulation therapy with a low-intensity target range after MVR or AVR seems to be effective and feasible, and increasing the patients’ compliance should be done for achieving more effective anticoagulation therapy.